Device for manipulating cotter pins



0.12. TANNERI DEVICE FOR MANIPULATING CUTTER PINS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1921.

Patented May30,192"2.

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. UNITED DANIEL R. TANNER, OF LE GRANDE, OREGON.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1922.

Application filed May 28, 1921. Serial No. 473,380.

To all whom 2'13 may concern:

Be it known that l, DANIEL ll. TANNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Le (irande, in the county of Union and State of Oregon, have invented new and useful improvements in Devices for Manipulating (otter Pins, oi? which the 'l'following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for manipulating cotter-pins 'l he dil'licul'ty in grip ping the slightly projecting loopend ot a cotter-pin well known. This end is only slightly projecting and the mere frictional grip oi pliers is not sullicieut. It the pliers are applied transversely to the plane of the loop end, they will flatten and deform such end thereby rendering the pin useless. Sometimes the loop end is parallel to a part oi? the machine which is so closely adjacent the loop that there is not room to get a grip oi? any kind, much less such a grip as would be eil'ective. This is due in great measure to the fact that the greatest resist ance against removal or withdrawal of a cotter pin is due to the fact that the spread ends thereof must be'contracted by the pull imparted on the loop end, hence a very considerable pulling stress must be exerted, and in all cases, when possible, it is oi course desirable to again use the pin that has been withdrawn.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a device for manipulating cotterpins whereby the loop end may be structurally engaged and a suflicient pulling stress exerted on such loop end to withdraw the pin and to entirely avoid any deformation of the loop end, irrespective as to whether the loop end is parallel or at any angle to a closely adjacent machine part.

In accordance with my invention, the jaws of my pliers are provided with separate sets of gripping devices for engagement with the loop end of a cotter-pin, and both sets are shaped to effect such engagement without any deformation of such end. One of. said devices is arranged for insertion through the loop end, on the part of one of. the jaws, the remaining 'jaw co-acting to retain engagement of the loop end, with the part threaded therethrough. The other of said devices serves to grip the "shank or body of, the cotter-pin just in advance of the loop end, the latter being preferably embraced or enclosed by such devices.

It is a special feature or this invention to arrange said devices in such close proximity to the marginal edgesoi the jaws so as to facilitate efiective engagement with the loop end irrespective both as to the size of the latter and its encroachment by an adjacent part or the machine or its structure.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means for manipulating a cotter-pin after the same has been withdrawn so as not only to efliciently close the spread ends into abutting relation for reuse, but also, to reshape said ends into perfect linear or straight condition. I

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the device of my invention in the form of pliers with the members thereof in a slightly separated or open position;

Fig. 2 is a face view of one of the jaw members detached from its companion member;

Fig. 3 is a face view of the companion jaw member;

Fig. 4 is a view looking in the direction of arrow 4- when the aws are closed;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5 5 of Fig. 1 with the jaws closed;

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation looking in the direction of arrow 6 with the insertion device shown in engagement with a cotter-pin Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 77 thereof; and i Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view, similar to Fig. 5, but with the jaws spread and applied laterally to a cotter-pin loop lying closely abreast of a fixed surface.

Like characters of reference designate similar parts throughout the different figures of the drawing.

In that form of my invention which is embodied in a plier structure, 1 and 2 designate jaw members in cross relation which. are pivotally connected at 3. Jaw member 1 has a suitably shaped handle d and a jaw 53. Jaw member 2 has a suitably shaped handle 6 and a jaw 7. The handle 6 is convexly curved to lit the palm of the hand, and the handle ll: adapted to be embraced by the fingers, the bond 8 permitting the gripper or operator to impart an effective withdrawing pull. As will presently appear,

this particular form of novel handle is especially advantageous in this device byreason oi: the fact that it Wlll always be held m one position.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

First referring to the insertion device for engaging the loop end of cotter-pin, 9 designatesa curved prong which projects from the face 10, of jaw 5,toward the 'remaining jaw. It will be noted that in additiontojbeing curved, this prong 9 is also tapered from its point toward its base. Furthermore, the prong 9 is substantially circular in cross-section throughout its length, as will be seen more clearly by re'ference to Fig; 2. It will also be noted that the prong 9 is disposed very closely adjacent to margins 11 and 12 of jaw 5, same being preferably located at one corner of the face 10 thereof. This disposition of the prong greatly facilitates the ease with which it may be inserted through the eye of the loop end of a cotter-pin. The companion jaw 7 has a portion. 13 which is cut away to permit theprong 9 to pass jaw 7 when the jaws are idly closed, as shown in Figure 4. It i may be here stated that it is a feature of the invention to bring the faces 10and14, of the jaws, into closed relation, or substantially so, when one set of devices is in use. Now it will be seenby reference to Fig. 6 that while the recess or cut-away portion permits the prong 9 to project along the end of jaw 7, still, the base 15 forms a shoulder which snugly engages the inner periphery of the prong and a hump 16 partially surroundssuch inner peripheral portion.

Now therefore in gripping a cotter pin 17, a portion 18 of the eye or loop end rests upon this portion 15 so that the prong '9 will effectively be forced into the eye until a sufficient diametrical portion thereof very snugly fits the eye, as shown in Fig. 6. Thus the loop end is engaged by opposing pressures, the prong on one side and the shoulder 15 on the other side whereby an effective pliers grip is afforded. With the pliers shown in the engagement in F 6 it will be readily seen how the cotter pin can be withdrawn. This set of gripping devices is effective irrespective of the angular or parallel relation of the loop end with respect to an adjacent part.

I willnext describe another set of gripping devices which is generally of better utility where the loop end is at an angle orparallel to a crowded. or adjacent part.

In the faces 10 and 14 are registering cavities 19 and 20 which are disposed very closely tothe side margin 21 but which are slightly remote from the end margin 11, of the jaws 5 and '4". These cavities are shaped to enclose the loop end irrespective of the location of the plane of the latter, as will be seen by reference to the dotted lines in Fig. 5. The cavities prevent the jaws from crushing or deforming the loop and end irrespective of the position thereof. The active and positive structural engagement however is afforded by gripping channels 22 and 23, which intersect the cavities 19 and 20 and which extend through the end margins 11 of the jaws, as will be seen b reference' to Fi s. 2 and 4. 7 These channels are preferably V-shaped, in cross-section,;to afford an active grip irrespective of the size of the cotter pin within a given range. Now when these dripping channels engage'the cotter pin in advance of the loop end thereof, they afford a positive and struc tural engagement which cannot and does not deform the eye or loop end. Either set of devices are equally adapted to withdraw or insert a cotter pin and where the loo'p end is in certain positions, under certain conditions, the devices are selectively adapted for application under the particularrequire ments to meet, some users more generally usingon'e device and other users the other device. However, thereis a juxtaposition of these devices such as will render both of advantageous utility under the varying condi'tions to which they may be applied.

In Fig. 8, l have shown how the jaws 5 and may be laterally applied to a loop 28, of a. cotter-pin, which loop lies closely adjacent to a fixed part or flat surface 52?). It will be seen that a cotter-pin eye in this position could not be turned to render it ac cessible but with my improved device it can readily be grasped. In practice, I prefer to reduce the edges 21, practically to a knife edge so that the loop may be sprung into the cavities, when in such a position as is shown in 8. However, even with the slightly blunt edges shown, and inthe event that the loop lies in fiat contact with an ad'- jacent surface, still, the edges 21 would wedge under the loop and the latterwould be sprung laterally into the cavities by reason of the closing pressure exerted on the jaws.

A very important feature of my invention consists in meansfor spreading'the ends of the cotter pin'after the latter has beeninserted as this isoftena very troublesome and "'time consuming operation. In cases where the split ends of the pin arefree from obstruction, the prong 9 is available for spreadings the ends in mucli the same fashion as shown in l igfi if the cotterpin were reversed, end to end. In some cases, the

cotter pin is adjacent so closely to a flat or other obstructing portion of the machine that it is not accessible as regards its ends.

Consequently,'where such is the case and there is not room for the fusage just described, the pliers can be reversed inthe hand ofthe operator andthe sharp hooked end 8 can be applied very successfully to spread the ends.

The jaws 5 and? are provided with means for straightening and reforminga cotterpin, which will now be described in detail.

Jaws 5 and .7'have linearand preferably curved channels 24 and 25 eir'tendingtransversely across the faces thereof. A bent cotter pin may be gripped in these straightening channels and restored to a linear condition to facilitate its reinsertion. By means of these registering channels it is not only possible to restore the legs of the cotter pin to a straight condition but it is also possible to align these legs into parallel relation.

A further feature of my invention consists in providing means for severii'ig a cotter-pin to reduce its length.

Vi LS shown, the jaw 5 has a recess 26 and the jaw T a recess 27, the abutting edges of which are sharpened so that When a pin is inserted thereto, with the recesses in registry, the pin. Will be severed.

it is believed that my invention will be clearly understood from the foregoing description, and While I have herein shown and described one specific "form of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereto except for such limitations as the claims may import.

I claim 1. Pliers for manipulating a cotter-pin having coacting awe, and one of said jaws having a tapered prong for insertion through the eye of pins 01 various sizes, and the remaining jaw being cut away to permit said prong to pass suchjaw, the cut-avvay jaw having a portion for engagement With the loop end of the cotter-pin on that side oppo site the side through which. the prong projects to eliect tight insertion of said prong when said aWs are closed.

2. Pliers for manipulating a cotter-pin, having coaeting jaws, said jaws having registering loop-grasping cavities sunk in the races thereof and in such close relation to the side edges of said jaws that lateral application of said jaws to a loop lying closely abreast of an adjacent flat surface Will permit said loop to be grasped into said cavities.

E5. Pliers for manipulating a cotter-pin, comprising coacting jaws, and one of said jaws having a prong tapered for tight insertion into the eyes of cotter-pins of various sizes, and the remaining jaw having means for coaction with the cotter-pin to effect tight insertion of said prong into the eye of the pin when said j aWs are closed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I hereby allix my signature.

DANIEL R. TANNER. 

